On 15 September 2026, ABF United Company Limited conducted a women empowerment and capacity-building programme in Sianna and Naikarra, Narok West Constituency, bringing together more than 350 women from the two communities.
The meetings were organised with the support of local chiefs, whose mobilisation helped create an inclusive platform for women to discuss economic opportunities, household resilience and greater participation in the livestock value chain.
The programme brought together representatives from ABF United Company Limited, Strathmore University and the Kenya Pastoralists Market Development (KPMD) programme. Sessions were led by Zahra Rashid, ABF’s Director in Charge of Operations and Strategy, who focused on practical pathways for women to strengthen their economic independence. Participants received hands-on training in beadwork (shanga making), with ABF proposing to support linkages to potential markets in Nairobi. The women were also trained in soap making, including the safe handling, storage and disposal of chemicals, alongside practical guidance on household sanitation, hygiene and maintaining clean homes and toilets.
Recognising that livestock remains a major source of livelihood in Narok, ABF also brought veterinary professionals to the sessions. The women received practical training on livestock husbandry, animal health, disease prevention, feeding and the proper care of sheep and goats.
Importantly, the engagement went beyond training. ABF encouraged the women to organise themselves into formally registered groups and progressively operate as structured women-led enterprises. This would enable them to pool resources, improve access to training and finance, purchase and raise livestock collectively, and negotiate from a stronger commercial position.
Under the proposed model, participating women can raise sheep and goats and supply them into ABF’s market network, creating a direct connection between skills development and dependable market access.
The Sianna and Naikarra engagement demonstrates ABF’s broader approach to women empowerment: combining practical skills, livestock knowledge, organisation, enterprise development and access to markets to create sustainable economic opportunities within pastoral communities.
ABF United Company Limited — The ultimate meat experience.
